In the aftermath of an auto accident, you must file an insurance claim to recover damages.
When the insurance company assigns an adjuster to your case, their typical objective is to protect the company’s best interests. This sometimes leads to bad-faith actions.
What is bad faith insurance?
Insurance companies sometimes resort to unsavory tactics to avoid fulfilling the obligations detailed in their contracts with policyholders. You may have a substantial claim for damages if you suffer severe injuries and property damage in a car accident. When you have sufficient evidence to support your claim, adjusters sometimes use unreasonable tactics to avoid paying.
How to recognize when an adjuster acts in bad faith?
If you recognize bad-faith tactics, you can immediately take action by confronting the insurance company or speaking with a personal injury attorney. Some common examples of bad-faith tactics include:
- Denying your claim without providing an explanation
- Offering you unreasonably low compensation to undervalue your claim
- Ignoring your attempts to communicate
- Misrepresenting the contract language, nondisclosure provisions and terms to avoid making a fair payment
- Using harsh or aggressive language that may seem accusatory to frustrate you
Remember that all insurance calls occur on recorded lines, and they will evaluate everything you say to search for anything they could use to divert blame. Be mindful of delays in the investigation into your claim or unreasonable requests for documentation they do not need to complete the process.
Mistakes are not the same as bad faith insurance, but you should speak up when an insurance company wrongs you.